When All Hope Seems Gone--Palliative Medicine Can Provide Comfort
Palliative medicine is a way to care for
patients with life-threatening diseases. But
unlike hospice care, patients in palliative care
may still be receiving curative therapies such as
chemotherapy or radiation,
as well as comfort care.
Patients and their families,
who are faced with the
reality of the end of life,
often feel hopeless.
Dr. Gina Mohr, physician
of Family and Palliative
Medicine at Loma Linda
University Medical Center,
explains, "Palliative care
offers a different kind
of hope: a hope for a
pain-free day, a hope for
no vomiting, the hope of another day with
family, or even a hope to be at home during the
last moments of life." Most important, the goal
of palliative care is to achieve the best possible
quality of life for patients and their loved ones.
Often we look at death as a failure of the
hospital, doctors, or even technology. It clearly is
difficult to accept. However, Dr. Mohr explains,
"If we ignore the fact that death is a part of life,
unfortunately our patients may face untreated suffering at the time of death." Palliative
medicine also focuses on the goal to reduce
suffering. It deals not only with the physical, but
also combines the psychological and spiritual
aspects of patient care. It
also offers a support system
to help the family cope
during the patient's illness
and in their own grief.
Palliative medicine is often the choice of those who are faced with significant to advanced, life-limiting diseases such as cancer, emphysema, and congestive heart failure. Also, pain management is a major part of palliative care. In some cases, home visits also are provided.
Call Now
If you think a loved one or yourself would benefit from what palliative medicine has to offer, talk to your physician. If you would like to find out more about the palliative medicine service at LLUMC, call
November/December 2005 Healthy Tomorrow
The editorial content of this online publication is taken from the print version of A Healthy Tomorrow published by Loma Linda University Medical Center.